Roller bearing axle



Sept 1, 1936- c. L. EAsTBURG l ROLLER lBEARING AXLE Filed Jan. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N VEN T02:

.H15 HTTOENE Y 4 Sept. l, 1936. I Q L EASTBURG 2,052,702

ROLLER BEARING AXLE Filed Jan. 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 man..

Patented Sept. l, 1936 ROLLER BEARING AXLE Clifford L. Easthhrg, cantomohiq, signor to The Tlmken Roller Bearing Company, Canton,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 2, 1935, Serial No. 24

3 Claims. (Cl. 295` 36) My invention relates to roller bearing axle constructions of the type wherein roller bearings are interposed between an axle and a housing surrounding said axle, particularly to locomotive 5 drivel` axle and similar axle constructions. The

present invention is an improvement on my Patent No. 1,732,263 dated October 22, 1929, wherein the outer bearing member of the roller bearing f is backed up in the housing by means of a crenellated ring. whose bosses normallyengage bosses "on the face of a web portion of said housing, but which may be turned so that its bosses t into the spaces between said housing bosses to allow clearance necessary in disassembling the axle from the bearings.

The present invention has for its principal objects to strengthen the construction of said patent, to simplify the disassembling operation and to provide for a safety bomb or other signaldevice to indicate overheating of the bearings.

Ihe invention consists principally in providing two crenellated rings in said housing, in the means for 'positioning and releasing said rings and in the adaptation of said positioning means to include the mounting of a signal device. The inventiony further consists in the roller bearing axle and in the parts and combinations and ar.- rangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a half 'plan view, half sectional View of the locomotive driver axle embodyingl my invention,

Fig. 2 is a half side elevation, half vertical sectional view, i

Fig. 3 is a view similar to the sectional portion of Fig. 1, showing the crenellated rings in plan and arranged in nested position so as to -free 40 the bearing cup,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3-showing said rings with their bosses in abutting relation so as to back up said bearing cup,

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations of said rings respectively,

Fig. 7 `is a sectional vView on the -line 1-1 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to the sectional portion oi Fig. 2.

In the drawings is illustrated a locomotive driver axle i having dri've wheels 2 on each end. A hollow axle housing 3 is provided for said axle lI and antifriction bearings are interposed between the enlarged tubular end or journal box portions i 'oi said housing and the axle. The drawings illustrate taper roller bearings, each comprising a cup 5 or outer bearing member mounted in the housing, a cone 6 mounted on the axle and conical rollers 1 between said cup and cone. The outer surfaces of -said housing portions are shaped to' 5 cooperate with suitable truck frame members 8.

The housing has a substantially radial web 9 around most of its periphery connecting it with the enlarged journal box portion. The lower portion I0 of the lhousing ares downwardly from 10 the' middle towards the end and at the bottom, merges into said box portion 4. The bearing box portion 4 is provided with an inwardly extending radial ange II, most of which is-formed by the outer portion of said web. The/interior of the 15 housing is provided with an internal longitudinally extending rib portion I2 which is a substantial continuation of the body of the housing and whose end is in radial alinement with the face of said internal radial flange II. Mounted 20 in said housing 3 against said radial iiange II and said internal projecting rib portion I2 of said 'axle is a ring I3 having a crenellated' portion around the periphery of one face composed of alternating bossesM and depressions I5 and 25 having a. sleeve portion I6 around its inner periphery abutting at one end against said end I2 oi said housing and normally spaced slightly at its other end `from the adjacent inner bearing cone 6. A second crenellated ring Il 'is inter- 30v posed between the crenellated portion of said rst ring I3 and said bearing cup 5, the crenellated faces of said rings opposing each other. In the assembled operating position, the bosses I4 of l said rings abut against each other and the bear- 35 ing cup 5 is thus held in position by means of said rings I3, I1 and said iiange II in said housing. The rings I3, I1, are held in position by means of locking plugs I8 threaded into holes I9 in the web portion 9 of said housing and hav- 40 ing projecting stems 2li passing through holes 2| in said ring I3 into spaces I5 between bosses of said second rings I1, thereby holding said rings I3, I1 against rotation.

portion 23 cooperating with a spacer ring 26 55 I mounted on the axle between the wheel hub and the outermost end of said bearing cone.

housing and the housing 3 is moved endwise away from the end from which said plugs had been removed, such movementl being permitted to the extent of the clearance in the roller bearing itself. A tool is then inserted through said plug holes I9 and said crenellated rings I3, II are lodsened from their pinched position between the bearing housing and the bearing cup. Relative rotation of said rings I3, Il bring the bosses I4 of leach ring into alinement with the spaces I5 of ltheother ring and said rings can then be nested so that said second ring I1 is clear of the bearing cup. The screws 23 are then removed and the whole structure placed in a wheel press and the axle removed from the bearings as set forth in my said Patent No. 1,732,263 dated October 22, 1929.

The crenellated rings I3, I1 may be made of hardened steel, so as to withstandthe heavy ,stresses'to which they are subjected. The lockingplugs I8 are conveniently located and the inner side ofthe housing end is flush with the pedestal guides. All of these features constitute important practical advantages.

Obviously numerous changes may be made in details of construction without 'departing from the invention and I do not wish to be, limited to the precise construction shown.

WhatI claim is:

1; An axle bearing construction comprising a wheeled axle, a housing therefor having an enlarged tubular end portion provided with an inwardly extending radial flange, a roller bearing interposed between said axle and said tubular end portion and a pairof crenellated rings interposed between the outer bearing member of said bearing'and said-flange of said housing with `their crenellated faces opposing each other, said housing having an internal longitudinal projection terminating iush with said radial angeand the crenellated ring seated against said flange also having a sleeve portion with one end engaging the end of said longitudinal projection and with the other end terminating adjacent to the inner bearing member of said roller bearing.

2. An axle bearing construction comprising a wheeled axle. a housing therefor having an enlarged tubular end portion provided with an inwardly extending radial flange, a roller bearing interposed between said axle and said tubular end plain face seated against said radial flange and having the peripheral portion of its other face crenellated, a second ring having a plain face seated against the outer'bearing member of said bearing and having a crenellated face opposedi to the crenellated face of said first mentioned ring, said lrst mentioned ring having openings ltherethrough near its outer periphery and securing lugs mounted in said radial flange and extending through said openings i'nto the spaces between bosses of said second crenellated ring.

3. An axle bearing construction comprising a wheeled axle, a housing therefor 4having an enlarged tubular end portion provided with an inwardly'` extending radialflange, a -roller bearing interposed between said axle and said tubular end portion, a ring mounted in said housing having a plain face seated against said radial flange and having the peripheral portion of its other face crenellated, a second ring having a plain face CLIFFORD L. EAS'I'BURG.

portion. a ring mounted in said housing having a 

